Antirattle means for keepers



April 1954 R. G. ZENICK 2,676,048

ANTIRATTLE MEANS FOR KEEPERS Filed Dec. 6, 1951 INVENTOR.-

K. 6. Zenick ATTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 20, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,676,048 AN TIRATTLE MEANS FOR KEEPERS Raymond G. Zenick, Burbank, Calif. Application December 6, 1951, Serial No. 260,194

This invention relates to a device mountable in the framing of a door to adjust the position of the closed door relative to the framing.

It is frequently found that the door and the framing of ordinary frame buildings, due to warping and shrinking of the material used, in the course of time become so badly out of joint that the door cannot be tightly closed. As a consequence, it is found not only that the closure becomes drafty but also that the rattling of such incompletely closed door, due to wind pressure, becomes very annoying.

It is in view of the foregoing the object of the invention to provide a simple and inexpensive device which may be placed in position in the framing of the door by any one familiar with the use of a screwdriver and which may be readily placed and adjusted properly to fit the door to its framing, while in closed position.

To this end, the invention resides in the combinations hereinafter fully described and preferred forms of the invention are illustrated in the drawing hereto appended.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary elevational view of a door jamb having thereon the conventional plate for receiving the bolt of the door look, within which plate the device of the invention is mounted;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional plan View of Fig. 1; and

Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate slightly modified forms of the clearance adjusting device of the invention.

The door jamb illustrated in the drawing includes a 2" x 4" stud I such as ordinarily used in wooden frame buildings and the surface of this stud, facing the door opening, is covered by the usual facing strip 2 having thereon the stop plate 3 for the bolt 5 of the door lock. As in practice, an opening 4 is cut through this plate of a size to receive therein the bolt of the door lock.

A bracket I0 is placed within the space I, such as usually is provided to afford clearance for the bolt of the door lock, and this bracket is shown mounted in position therein by means of a screw l I. The bracket is L-shaped, including a base from which a wall l2 extends through the opening 4 of the plate. This wall is provided with a flange l3 which rests against the outer surface of the plate. In addition, it is noticed that the perforation I4 of the bracket, in which the fastening screw II is seated, is somewhat elongated thereby to provide for lateral adjustment of the bracket.

1 Claim. (Cl. 292-34112) It was above pointed out that considerable clearance or play, often develops between the is in closed position and then to mount the bracket in such position within the plate 3 that the distance from the surface l6 of the bracket wall I2 to the adjacent surface I1 of the recess 1 is slightly less than the play between the door 8 and the door stop 9. In such manner, it is possible for any one familiar with the use of a screwdriver quickly and without effort so to adjust the bracket within the space 1 that the door closes properly.

Referring now to Fig. 3, it is noticed that a somewhat different form of bracket is placed within the space I. The base 20 of this bracket is shown somewhat outwardly curved, but the side wall 2! may remain unchanged except that the flange, as indicated at l3 omitted. In placing the bracket within the recess, it is merely required to set the side wall 2| against the adjacent surface [1 of the recess and through the perforation 23 of the bracket to mark off the location of the screw 22, which thereupon is driven into the facing strip 2. When now the door is closed, it is quickly discovered whether the thickness of the bracket wall 2| is sufficient to cut down whatever play may have developed. But if too much play still is present, it is merely required further to enter the screw thereby to apply suificient pressure against the base 20 of the bracket slightly to reduce the curvature thereof and so to cause the wall 2| to tilt away from the surface I 7 of the recess. This operation may be repeated until the outer edge 24 of the bracket Wall is the required distance away from the recess surface l1, substantially as indicated at 24.

Ordinarily the amount of play developing between a door and its door stop is relatively slight and no necessity may be found for placing a flange, such as shown at [3 in Fig. 1, on the bracket because the beveled end of the bolt 5 will slide over the edge of the bracket in closing the door. But where the play between the door and the door stop is excessive, the space between the edge of the bracket and the surface I! of the recess may be so great that the front edge 25 of the bolt may lodge within this space in cases where the door is slowly and lightly moved toward closed position and will stay in this position, leaving the door not entirely closed. But

3 where the flange I3 is added, no such incomplete closing can take place; hence the importance of adding this flange.

Because of the softness of the material from which the facing strip 2 is made and also for the reason that, in cutting into the facing strip to form the recess 1, the bottom thereof generally is left rather uneven, it may be found that the front and rear edges of the convex base 20 tend to dig into this soft and rough surface, rendering it difficult in applying the screw pressure to the convex bracket base to obtain th desired degree of adjustment of the bracket. In such cases, it is advantageous to employ a bracket such as illustrated in Fig. 4.

The general outline of this bracket may remain unchanged, but the material of the base has been folded back to provide a flat web 3| along the even and smooth surface of which the convex portion 32 of th base is free to slide in spreading when pressure of the screw is applied thereto. It is, of course, required to use material of considerable toughness and resilience in order that the bracket may withstand the pressure applied thereto without setting. When in addition the flange 33 is bent back slightly, substantially as indicated in dotted outline in Fig. 4, it is found that the edge 34 of this flange will remain in contact with the surface of the plate 3 in every position of adjustment of the bracket. The bolt will then move freely and smoothly over the stop plate and the flange 33 in closing the door.

It is seen from the foregoing description that I have provided a very simple and inexpensive device which may be installed and manipulated by the average man of the house quickly and effectively to adjust a door to its framing. But while I have hereinbefore described means by which such adjustment may be readily effected, it is to be understood that the drawing is merely illustrative of such means and that the right is reserved to embody such slight modifications of shapes and proportions as may be found necessary in order to produce a commercially practical device, without thereby departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the claim hereto appended.

I claim:

A device mountable within the recess of a door jamb behind the perforation of the door bolt lock plate of the jamb, said device comprising a bracket having a perforated convexly curved base seatable against the bottom surface of said recess and a side member projecting from said base along the outer side wall of the recess to the surface of said lock plate, and a screw extending through th perforation of the base into the jamb to lock the bracket in position within the recess, the screw being operable to apply pressure against the convex base of the bracket thereby to tilt the side member inwardly away from the outer side wall of the recess.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

